Music box mounts



Au 19, 1958 J. F. SCOTT 2,847,891

MUSIC BOX MOUNTS Filed March 25, 1955 INVENTOR. 244%A ,1. W14- MW {MW United States Patent MUSIC BOX MOUNTS Joseph F. Scott, New York, N. Y.

Application March 25, 1955, Serial No. 496,751

15 Claims. (Cl. 84-94) The present invention relates to music boxes and supports therefor.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a music box and support combination which is adapted to be mounted on the rocker of a rocking chair or the like so that the rocking motion of the rocker causes an actuating member of the music box to engage the fioor, for example, in order to actuate the music box. The support which carries the music box is in the form of a bracket fixed to and closing part of the housing of the music box. The music box housing has a certain minimum depth essential for the music box, and this depth is not small enough in comparison to the thickness of a conventional rocker to enable the bracket to be attached to the rocker while the music box is fixed to the bracket. Thus, in order to be able to fasten the bracket to a rocker or the like, it has been necessary up to the present time to provide a non-rigid connection between the music box and the bracket so that the latter can first be connected to a rocker or the like and then have the music box attached thereto.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a rigid connection between a music box and bracket whileat the same time eliminating any difiiculties in attaching the bracket to a relatively narrow member such as rocker of a rocking chair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure which enables such a rigid connection to be made after the bracket is fixed to a rocker or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rigid connection of the above type before the bracket is attached to a rocker or the like.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide structure capable of accomplishing the above objects and at the same time characterized by extreme simplicity, ruggedness, and reliability.

With the above objects in view the present invention mainly consists of a music box and support therefor, the music box and support including a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending angularly with respect to each other, one of these wall portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of the wall portions being formed in an intermediate part with a cutout. A music box housing which is open at one end contains components of a music box, and one of these components extending outwardly beyond the housing through its open end and has a width substantially smaller than the cutout in the bracket. The housing is located on the wall formed with the cutout with the open end of the housing engaging this latter wall so that the wall with the cutout extends across the open end of the housing, the component of the music box which extends beyond the housing thereof extending with substantial clearance through the cutout beyond the bracket. A means is provided for rigidly fixing the housing to the bracket.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the interior of a music box housing with the components of the music box illustrated diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a bracket adapted to be attached to a rocker or the like and to be rigidly fixed to the housing of Fig. 1 to carry the latter;

Fig. 3 shows the structure of Figs. 1 and 2 assembled together and attached to a fragmentarily illustrated rocker;

Fig. 4 shows a modified structure of the invention attached to a fragmentarily illustrated rocker;

Fig. 5 shows still another embodiment of the structure of the invention attached to a fragmentarily illustrated rocker; and

Fig. 6 is a side view of the structure of Fig. 5 detached from the rocker shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a music box housing 10 as seen when looking into the interior thereof. This music box housing 10 may be made of metal and is open only at the end through which the interior of the music box housing is seen as viewed in Fig. 1. The components in the interior of the music box are conventional and are diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1, these components including the tone strips or rods 11 and a rotatable barrel 12 having spikes 13 which actuate the tone strips. The barrel 12 is fixed to a ratchet wheel 14 which cooperates with a pair of pawls respectively carried by a pair of pivotally interconnected arm-s 15 and 16. Arm 15 is pivoted to an arm 17, and arm 16 is pivoted to an arm 18, the arms 17 and 18 being pivoted to each other and connected to an end of an arcuate actuating member 19 which is itself pivotally connected at 20 to a support within the housing 10. The arms 17 and 18 as well as the actuating member 19 extend outwardly beyond the housing 10 through the only opening thereof, this opening visible in Fig. 1. The opening of housing 10 is located at the bottom end of this housing when it is mounted in its operative position and is defined by the peripheral edge 21 from which a pair of tongues 22 and a pair of tongues 23 extend, as shown in Fig. 1. The tongues 23 extend at right angles from the right wall of the housing 10, as viewed in Fig. 1, while the tongues 22 form an extension of the left wall of housing 10, as viewed in Fig. 1.

The housing 10 and the music box components therein are carried by a bracket 24 shown in Fig. 2. The bracket 24 includes a pair of wall portions 25 and 26 which extend angularly with respect to each other and in the illustrated example are substantially at right angles to each other. The wall portion 25 is formed with openings 27 through which screws pass to connect the bracket 24 to the inner side face 28 of a rocker 29 of a rocking chair, for example, as indicated in Fig. 3. The wall portion 26 is formed with a cutout 30 which is substantially triangular and much wider than the arcuate actuating member 19. Furthermore, the wall portion 26 is formed with upwardly struck channel portions 31 which respectively form openings 32 in the wall portion 26.

When the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is assembled the housing 10 is placed on top of wall portion 26 with this wall portion extending across the open end of housing 10 visible in Fig. 1. However, when it is assembled with the bracket 24 the housing 10 covers all of the openings 27 except the uppermost one shown in Fig. 2. Therefore it is necessary to attach the bracket 24 to an element such as a rocker 29 (Fig. 3) before the housing it is joined to the bracket 24. After screws or the like are passed through the openings 27 to attach bracket 24 to a rocker so that the wall portion 26 extends substantially horizontally, the housing 10 is placed on the wall portion 26. In placing the housing 10 on the wall portion 26 the tongues 23 are slipped under one pair of channel portions 31, and the actuating member 19 together with arms 17 and 18 extend downwardly through the cutout 30 while the tongues 22 extend downwardly through the openings 32 on the other side of wall portion 26, the parts then having the position indicated in Fig. 3. Then it is only necessary to turn the tongues 22 upwardly to the left beneath the channels 31, in order to form a rigid connection between housing 10 and bracket 24. ating member 19 extends downwardly below the rocket 2? so that as a person rocks a rocking chair of which rocker 2? forms a part the member 19 is turned through cutout 30 into and out of housing in to actuate the music box. As is well known a spring urges actuating member 19 outwardly to the position indicated in Fig. 3.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 is identical with that of Figs. 1-3 except that the music box housing 10' is permanently connected to the wall portion 26 of bracket 2- 3 by a hinge 33 which replaces the tongues 23 and the right channel portions 31 of Fig. 2. When this embodiment is attached to the inner surface 28 of rocker 29, housing id is turned in a clockwise direction about hinge 33 from the position shown in Fig. 4 in order to uncover the wall portion 25 of 'bracket 24 so that the latter may be attached to the rocker 29. Then the housing it) is turned to the position indicated in Fig. 4 where actuating member 19' extends downwardly through the cutout of the bottom wall of bracket 24 and Where the tongues 22' extend downwardly through the left cut outs 32 of wall portion 26', as may be seen from wall portion 26 of Fig. 2 which is identical with wall portion 26 except that right channels 31 of Fig. 2 are omitted. Thereafter the tongues 22' are bent upwardly to form a rigid connection between housing 16 and bracket 24.

The embodiments shown in Figs. and 6 differs from those described above in that the housing a is permanently welded to the wall portion 26:: of the bracket 24a. The wall portion 25a of bracket 24:: is provided with laterally extending ears 34 which extend 'beyond the housing 10a so that screws may be passed through openings 35 in these cars to fix the bracket 24a to a rocker 29 or the like. Thus, with the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 the housing 10a is permanently fixed to bracket 24a before the latter is attached to the rocker. The upper portion of the wall 25a is formed with an opening 36 through which a screw may be passed to connect this portion to the rocker 29. In the event that the height of wall portion 25a is greater than the thickness of rocker 29, the wall portion 25a may be bent at its upper portion substantially normal to the remainder of wall 25a, with any suitable tool, so that this bent upper portion may be screwed down to the top face of the rocker.

Thus, as is apparent from the above description, it is possible with the present invention to provide a rigid connection between the music box housing and bracket either before or after this housing is joined to the bracket and at the same time no difficulties are encountered in providing a rigid connection between the bracket and rocker.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of music box mounts differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and embodied in rocker mounted music boxes, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Withoutfurther analysis, the foregoing will so fully It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the actureveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination,- a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending angularly with respect to each other, one of said wall portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall :ortions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music 'box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing being located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said-open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket.

2. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending angularly with respect to each other, one of said wall. portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing being located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket, said means comprising portions of said other wall portion of said bracket formed with openings, respectively, and tongues of said housing respectively extending through said openings and bent against said other wall portion of said bracket,

3. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending angularlywith respect to each other, one of said wall portions having a pair of opposite laterally extending ears adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and con taining components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing being located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket, said ears extending respectively beyond either side of said housing; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket, said means comprising a weldment fusing said housing to saidother wall portion of said bracket so that said housing can be rigidly fixed to said other wall portion before said extending ears on said one wall portion are attached to a rocking chair rocker.

4 A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending angularly with respect to each other, one of said wall portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereofand having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing being located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other Wall portion of said bracket, said means comprising a hinge turnably connecting one edge of said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket, portions of said other bracket wall portion formed with openings passing respectively therethrough, and tongues of said housing respectively extending through said open ings and bent against said other wall portion of said bracket.

5. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending substantially at right angles to each other, one of said wall portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said Wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing overlapping all but a small fraction of said one wall portion and located on said other Wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket; and means for rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket after said one wall portion is attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like.

' 6. A music box and support therefor, comprsing, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending substantially at right angles to each other, one of said wall portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing overlapping all but a small fraction of said one wall portion and located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one'component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket.

7. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending substantially at right angles to each other, one of said wall portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing overlapping all but a small fraction of said one wall portion and located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket; and means for rigidly fixing said housing to said other Wall portion of said bracket after said one wall portion is attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like, said means comprising portions of said other wall portion of said bracket formed with openings, respectively, and tongues of said housing respectively extending through said openings and bent against said other wall portion of said bracket.

8. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending substantially at right angles to each other, one of said wall portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing overlapping all but a small fraction of said one wall portion and located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket; and means for rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket after said one wall portion is attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like, said means comprising a hinge turnably connecting one edge of said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket, portions of said other bracket Wall portion formed with openings passing respectively therethrough, and tongues of said housing respectively extending through said openings and bent against said other wall portion of said bracket.

9. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending substantially at right angles to each other, one of said wall portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing overlapping all but a small fraction of said one wall portion and located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other Wall portion of said bracket before said one wall portion is attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like.

10. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending substantially-at right angles to each other, one of said wall portions having a pair of opposite laterally extending ears adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the otherv of saidwall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and closed at an opposite end thereof and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing overlapping all but a small fraction of said one wall portion and located on said other Wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other Wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other Wall portion of said bracket, said ears extending respectively beyond either side of said housing and being located between said one end and said opposite end of said housing; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket before said one wall portion is attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like, said means comprising a weldment fusing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket so that said housing can be rigidly fixed to said other wall portion before said extending ears on said one wall portion are attached to a rocking chair rocker.

11. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending angularly With respect to each other; one of said wall portions being adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said Wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a substantially triangular cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing being located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket.

12. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a rocking chair rocker; a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending angularly with respect to each other, one of said wall portions having a pair of opposite laterally extending ears attached to said rocker and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing being located at said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other Wall portion of said bracket, said ears extending respectively beyond either side of said housing; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket so that said housing can be rigidly afiixed to said other wall portion before said extending ears on said one wall portions are attached to said rocker.

13. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending angularly with respect to each other, one of said Wall portions having a pair of opposite laterally extending ears adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediate part thereof with a cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing being located on said other Wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending With substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket, said ears extending respectively beyond either side of said housing; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket so that said housing can be rigidly fixed to said other Wall portion before said extending ears on said one Wall portion are attached to a rocking chair rocker.

14. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of wall portions extending substantially at right angles to each other, one of said wall portions having a pair of opposite laterally extending ears adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being 1 formed in an intermediate part thereof with cutout; a music box housing open at one end and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing overlapping all but a small fraction of said one Wallportion and located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other Wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket, said ears extending respectively beyond either side of said housing; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other wall portion of said bracket so that said housing can be rigidly fixed to said other wall portion before said extending ears on said one wall portion are attached to a rocking chair rocker.

15. A music box and support therefor, comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of Wall portions extending angularly with respect to each other; one of said wall portions having a pair of opposite laterally extending ears adapted to be attached to a rocking chair rocker or the like and the other of said wall portions being formed in an intermediaate part thereof with a substantially triangular cutout; a music box housing open at one end and closed at an opposite end thereof and containing components of a music box, one of said components extending outwardly beyond said housing through said open end thereof and having a width substantially smaller than said cutout, said housing being located on said other wall portion of said bracket with the open end of said housing engaging said other Wall portion so that the latter extends across said open end of said housing, said one component extending with substantial clearance through said cutout beyond said other wall portion of said bracket, said ears extending respectively beyond either side of said housing and being located between said one end and said opposite end of said housing; and means rigidly fixing said housing to said other Wall portion of said bracket so that said housing can be rigidly fixed to said other wall portion before said extending ears on said one wall portion are attached to a rocking chair rocker.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,623,430 Haselton Dec. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 267,415 Switzerland June 16, 1950 

